Scottish Executive

Communities Scotland

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Communities Scotland has to investigate alleged mismanagement in housing associations.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland (on behalf of Scottish ministers) may appoint a person to conduct an inquiry into the affairs of a housing association (a registered social landlord) in response to suspected mismanagement or misconduct where the governing body is either unwilling or unable to take the action necessary to address the problems of the organisation.

Communities Scotland

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Communities Scotland has to investigate the financial and maintenance performance of housing associations.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Section 79 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 provides Scottish ministers with the power to set standards. Performance standards are developed and published jointly by Communities Scotland the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

  Communities Scotland will undertake a programme of inspections designed to ensure that all regulated bodies are visited and assessed against performance standards at least once every five years. There are mechanisms in place to allow the financial performance and risk profile of each regulated body to be assessed annually. These assessments are used in deciding whether or not additional contact will be required between programmed inspections. There are performance standards, which relate specifically to finance and maintenance.

Communities Scotland

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has directed Communities Scotland to assess the performance of any housing association in the last three years.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Executive has not directed Communities Scotland to assess the performance of any housing association in the past three years.

Dental Care

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter the current rule that registration of children for dentistry services under the NHS lasts for only 15 months and whether it will amend the rule so that a child remains registered as a patient with a dental practice until he or she reaches adulthood.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to alter the 15-month NHS registration period with a dentist.

Drug Misuse

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for dealing in a class A drug there have been in the West Renfrewshire parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information on arrests is not held centrally.

  Data on convictions are available by court and information on recorded crime is available by local authority area. Neither is available by parliamentary constituency.

  Data held centrally on convictions for drugs crimes do not specify the type of drug involved. Estimates can be made of convictions by class of drug only at national level.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils did not reach 5-14 attainment levels relating to their stage of primary and secondary education in each local authority area in each year since 1999, broken down by age cohort and subject.

Nicol Stephen: The following tables show the percentage of pupils in each local authority who did not reach the target 5-14 attainment level for their stage in the school years 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The school stages where there are target levels of 5-14 attainment are P3, P4, P6, P7 and S2; therefore figures are shown for these stages only. The results for each subject are shown separately.

  The information was obtained from the annual survey of 5-14 attainment levels in publicly funded schools where data was collected by school stage and not by pupil age.

  5-14 Attainment of P3 and P4 pupils in Scotland by Local Authority, Publicly Funded Schools, Percentage of Pupils not Attaining Stated Level by End of the Stage

  


Reading
  

% of P3 roll
  

% of P4 roll
  



Not Reached Level A
  

Not Reached Level B
  



Local Authority
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  



Scotland
  

19.4
  

15.4
  

12.8
  

29.1
  

24.9
  

21.3
  



Aberdeen City
  

21.1
  

16.8
  

14.1
  

29.7
  

28.0
  

24.1
  



Aberdeenshire
  

18.4
  

17.0
  

13.0
  

27.3
  

25.4
  

22.5
  



Angus
  

18.7
  

12.3
  

14.3
  

30.1
  

23.6
  

21.0
  



Argyll and Bute
  

34.0
  

12.1
  

14.0
  

36.3
  

19.4
  

19.1
  



Clackmannanshire
  

23.4
  

13.1
  

10.4
  

35.1
  

27.7
  

22.0
  



Dumfries and Galloway
  

20.7
  

18.9
  

15.1
  

30.6
  

30.5
  

25.9
  



Dundee City
  

20.7
  

19.5
  

14.0
  

33.7
  

27.4
  

25.0
  



East Ayrshire
  

20.0
  

17.0
  

13.1
  

27.7
  

25.8
  

23.7
  



East Dunbartonshire
  

10.6
  

7.0
  

5.3
  

18.7
  

13.9
  

10.2
  



East Lothian
  

17.9
  

14.0
  

8.7
  

25.6
  

25.5
  

22.1
  



East Renfrewshire
  

9.5
  

7.2
  

5.3
  

16.8
  

12.6
  

11.1
  



Edinburgh, City of
  

18.4
  

15.7
  

12.2
  

28.9
  

24.3
  

20.0
  



Eilean Siar
  

27.6
  

11.5
  

4.4
  

17.3
  

14.9
  

16.0
  



Falkirk
  

17.4
  

17.3
  

14.6
  

32.2
  

25.4
  

20.6
  



Fife
  

28.5
  

24.5
  

19.5
  

39.1
  

32.6
  

27.7
  



Glasgow City
  

20.2
  

15.6
  

15.1
  

31.9
  

28.7
  

23.1
  



Highland
  

19.2
  

15.8
  

13.9
  

26.9
  

24.0
  

21.6
  



Inverclyde
  

20.6
  

16.1
  

11.0
  

27.8
  

22.9
  

23.0
  



Midlothian
  

22.5
  

21.0
  

12.0
  

33.8
  

30.4
  

27.4
  



Moray
  

16.7
  

16.4
  

12.5
  

22.4
  

23.3
  

22.4
  



North Ayrshire
  

17.2
  

12.5
  

11.3
  

26.6
  

24.0
  

22.8
  



North Lanarkshire
  

17.6
  

13.1
  

11.6
  

28.5
  

24.8
  

21.0
  



Orkney Islands
  

13.8
  

9.8
  

5.6
  

21.3
  

17.9
  

18.0
  



Perth and Kinross
  

15.7
  

15.2
  

12.4
  

23.5
  

23.4
  

19.3
  



Renfrewshire
  

18.4
  

12.3
  

10.6
  

33.2
  

19.4
  

19.4
  



Scottish Borders
  

14.5
  

12.1
  

12.7
  

23.2
  

20.3
  

16.3
  



Shetland Islands
  

14.3
  

9.0
  

8.2
  

17.8
  

20.9
  

11.3
  



South Ayrshire
  

15.6
  

13.4
  

9.6
  

21.7
  

21.3
  

18.9
  



South Lanarkshire
  

17.2
  

13.0
  

9.9
  

26.6
  

19.9
  

17.3
  



Stirling
  

20.3
  

14.2
  

9.5
  

29.6
  

24.5
  

18.8
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

22.1
  

10.8
  

10.6
  

28.0
  

24.5
  

18.7
  



West Lothian
  

20.7
  

16.9
  

15.1
  

30.4
  

28.9
  

21.6
  



  5-14 Attainment of P6, P7 and S2 pupils in Scotland by Local Authority, Publicly Funded Schools, Percentage of Pupils not Attaining Stated Level by End of the Stage

  


Reading
  

% of P6 roll
  

% of P7 roll
  

% of S2 roll
  



Not Reached Level C
  

Not Reached Level D
  

Not Reached Level E
  



Local Authority
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  



Scotland
  

24.5
  

20.1
  

17.1
  

36.1
  

33.7
  

29.7
  

55.5
  

46.9
  

43.6
  



Aberdeen City
  

24.8
  

22.3
  

17.7
  

36.3
  

33.8
  

28.7
  

48.9
  

44.0
  

43.3
  



Aberdeenshire
  

19.3
  

17.0
  

15.7
  

28.4
  

31.1
  

27.7
  

41.7
  

39.3
  

37.3
  



Angus
  

23.9
  

21.2
  

20.8
  

38.3
  

37.2
  

31.1
  

51.2
  

42.8
  

41.8
  



Argyll and Bute
  

37.4
  

16.3
  

12.7
  

37.5
  

28.1
  

23.8
  

75.4
  

37.9
  

36.4
  



Clackmannanshire
  

29.5
  

22.1
  

19.7
  

45.6
  

41.7
  

35.7
  

59.4
  

56.1
  

51.6
  



Dumfries and Galloway
  

24.1
  

24.5
  

19.7
  

36.6
  

36.5
  

34.0
  

49.7
  

45.3
  

47.5
  



Dundee City
  

31.3
  

27.2
  

22.1
  

44.2
  

41.7
  

35.1
  

55.8
  

55.8
  

50.0
  



East Ayrshire
  

24.6
  

21.1
  

16.7
  

38.0
  

35.7
  

34.8
  

62.8
  

49.7
  

46.3
  



East Dunbartonshire
  

14.6
  

9.7
  

9.4
  

25.2
  

20.8
  

16.0
  

69.5
  

36.3
  

31.5
  



East Lothian
  

24.7
  

19.2
  

15.9
  

34.6
  

33.5
  

29.2
  

50.5
  

44.9
  

39.1
  



East Renfrewshire
  

16.0
  

13.1
  

11.3
  

25.6
  

24.7
  

19.6
  

40.6
  

30.8
  

31.8
  



Edinburgh, City of
  

24.9
  

20.2
  

16.7
  

35.7
  

33.4
  

28.4
  

57.1
  

51.7
  

47.0
  



Eilean Siar
  

20.1
  

16.0
  

4.3
  

28.8
  

25.5
  

19.5
  

33.9
  

33.5
  

28.2
  



Falkirk
  

25.7
  

18.4
  

17.4
  

36.0
  

34.5
  

28.4
  

52.8
  

49.1
  

43.8
  



Fife
  

29.9
  

26.2
  

20.7
  

43.5
  

41.4
  

36.8
  

61.5
  

53.2
  

49.1
  



Glasgow City
  

26.0
  

23.8
  

19.9
  

40.7
  

37.6
  

33.4
  

67.6
  

60.3
  

53.5
  



Highland
  

19.7
  

17.0
  

17.8
  

31.7
  

29.3
  

28.4
  

44.1
  

41.6
  

33.7
  



Inverclyde
  

24.5
  

20.0
  

18.3
  

35.1
  

29.7
  

30.8
  

50.5
  

40.3
  

35.0
  



Midlothian
  

30.0
  

26.9
  

20.7
  

43.8
  

37.2
  

40.6
  

49.5
  

51.6
  

56.7
  



Moray
  

20.0
  

17.7
  

16.5
  

32.3
  

28.5
  

26.9
  

55.2
  

45.1
  

49.1
  



North Ayrshire
  

24.1
  

19.8
  

17.6
  

37.4
  

35.9
  

27.3
  

56.6
  

52.5
  

47.9
  



North Lanarkshire
  

23.8
  

19.6
  

15.9
  

35.1
  

33.2
  

28.8
  

62.1
  

50.9
  

50.2
  



Orkney Islands
  

18.0
  

19.1
  

14.1
  

29.4
  

24.7
  

35.3
  

28.0
  

33.3
  

29.3
  



Perth and Kinross
  

20.5
  

15.4
  

16.4
  

31.0
  

30.2
  

25.6
  

40.9
  

36.2
  

35.6
  



Renfrewshire
  

30.5
  

17.6
  

15.6
  

40.5
  

34.1
  

28.4
  

68.4
  

40.9
  

36.7
  



Scottish Borders
  

21.5
  

18.0
  

14.0
  

30.7
  

32.4
  

26.9
  

37.1
  

31.7
  

35.6
  



Shetland Islands
  

22.6
  

16.7
  

11.4
  

27.5
  

27.3
  

26.4
  

31.9
  

30.5
  

28.6
  



South Ayrshire
  

16.8
  

15.3
  

13.4
  

28.8
  

27.8
  

23.8
  

50.6
  

42.8
  

37.8
  



South Lanarkshire
  

23.2
  

16.3
  

13.8
  

32.0
  

31.1
  

27.0
  

51.6
  

45.4
  

41.1
  



Stirling
  

22.9
  

20.9
  

18.2
  

33.4
  

33.6
  

28.4
  

48.7
  

40.6
  

35.3
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

28.9
  

19.1
  

17.9
  

40.6
  

31.1
  

28.7
  

62.9
  

47.3
  

48.3
  



West Lothian
  

24.6
  

22.9
  

19.2
  

37.6
  

35.2
  

32.8
  

54.3
  

49.6
  

43.2
  



  5-14 Attainment of P3 and P4 pupils in Scotland by Local Authority, Publicly Funded Schools, Percentage of Pupils not Attaining Stated Level by End of the Stage

  


Writing
  

% of P3 roll
  

% of P4 roll
  



Not Reached Level A
  

Not Reached Level B
  



Local Authority
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  



Scotland
  

29.8
  

21.4
  

17.2
  

39.9
  

33.3
  

29.1
  



Aberdeen City
  

27.0
  

22.1
  

18.6
  

39.7
  

36.1
  

33.5
  



Aberdeenshire
  

31.5
  

23.5
  

17.4
  

36.9
  

35.8
  

31.6
  



Angus
  

26.0
  

21.2
  

22.3
  

42.4
  

34.6
  

31.2
  



Argyll and Bute
  

43.6
  

16.4
  

16.3
  

47.3
  

27.9
  

24.3
  



Clackmannanshire
  

37.3
  

22.2
  

15.9
  

47.6
  

34.5
  

32.3
  



Dumfries and Galloway
  

27.4
  

24.2
  

18.9
  

40.7
  

35.8
  

34.2
  



Dundee City
  

35.4
  

26.0
  

21.3
  

47.4
  

36.3
  

33.7
  



East Ayrshire
  

35.3
  

25.0
  

19.3
  

40.0
  

33.1
  

27.3
  



East Dunbartonshire
  

21.0
  

13.4
  

6.7
  

27.6
  

20.3
  

15.9
  



East Lothian
  

21.6
  

17.6
  

11.7
  

32.7
  

33.2
  

28.8
  



East Renfrewshire
  

15.7
  

10.8
  

7.9
  

26.3
  

20.0
  

15.0
  



Edinburgh, City of
  

25.6
  

20.6
  

15.3
  

35.1
  

31.9
  

26.2
  



Eilean Siar
  

33.3
  

13.8
  

6.7
  

31.7
  

14.9
  

17.3
  



Falkirk
  

28.7
  

22.1
  

14.7
  

38.9
  

31.6
  

26.0
  



Fife
  

38.1
  

29.4
  

23.6
  

51.2
  

43.3
  

36.8
  



Glasgow City
  

35.6
  

24.0
  

20.8
  

46.2
  

36.8
  

32.0
  



Highland
  

27.9
  

21.5
  

18.8
  

37.1
  

32.6
  

28.1
  



Inverclyde
  

30.8
  

23.7
  

16.3
  

43.9
  

36.2
  

29.3
  



Midlothian
  

33.6
  

24.7
  

17.7
  

48.0
  

39.6
  

32.9
  



Moray
  

22.8
  

19.2
  

15.5
  

33.7
  

28.6
  

26.8
  



North Ayrshire
  

27.2
  

22.2
  

17.4
  

40.4
  

31.7
  

30.7
  



North Lanarkshire
  

30.8
  

21.0
  

15.0
  

40.5
  

35.0
  

30.6
  



Orkney Islands
  

19.8
  

14.8
  

9.5
  

31.2
  

20.9
  

22.0
  



Perth and Kinross
  

26.6
  

19.0
  

16.7
  

33.3
  

30.0
  

27.7
  



Renfrewshire
  

28.5
  

17.6
  

14.6
  

41.0
  

26.1
  

27.2
  



Scottish Borders
  

15.8
  

15.6
  

18.0
  

31.4
  

28.8
  

24.3
  



Shetland Islands
  

16.2
  

12.3
  

14.3
  

22.4
  

25.1
  

25.7
  



South Ayrshire
  

21.4
  

15.7
  

12.2
  

30.2
  

27.2
  

25.2
  



South Lanarkshire
  

29.8
  

18.9
  

16.2
  

36.5
  

29.6
  

26.5
  



Stirling
  

30.0
  

20.3
  

10.5
  

39.8
  

37.9
  

25.3
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

35.0
  

21.6
  

18.4
  

41.5
  

35.6
  

26.4
  



West Lothian
  

30.0
  

20.3
  

20.3
  

39.9
  

34.6
  

30.8
  



  5-14 Attainment of P6, P7 and S2 pupils in Scotland by Local Authority, Publicly Funded Schools, Percentage of Pupils not Attaining Stated Level by End of the Stage

  


Writing
  

% of P6 roll
  

% of P7 roll
  

% of S2 roll
  



Not Reached Level C
  

Not Reached Level D
  

Not Reached Level E
  



Local Authority
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  



Scotland
  

37.9
  

32.1
  

28.7
  

52.7
  

47.4
  

43.7
  

62.0
  

56.5
  

54.1
  



Aberdeen City
  

35.1
  

33.8
  

29.0
  

52.9
  

47.1
  

45.0
  

62.2
  

58.3
  

58.4
  



Aberdeenshire
  

33.1
  

29.9
  

27.9
  

47.6
  

44.7
  

43.1
  

54.9
  

53.6
  

49.7
  



Angus
  

39.2
  

33.0
  

38.0
  

54.7
  

50.9
  

46.3
  

59.5
  

47.3
  

49.6
  



Argyll and Bute
  

50.7
  

23.8
  

24.5
  

58.4
  

43.8
  

38.3
  

80.3
  

47.4
  

46.5
  



Clackmannanshire
  

47.8
  

38.0
  

36.8
  

64.4
  

59.3
  

48.9
  

63.9
  

69.7
  

60.7
  



Dumfries and Galloway
  

36.1
  

37.8
  

31.3
  

47.6
  

49.1
  

48.4
  

58.5
  

51.6
  

57.1
  



Dundee City
  

43.9
  

39.7
  

35.4
  

57.1
  

51.8
  

47.6
  

56.7
  

59.1
  

56.3
  



East Ayrshire
  

38.0
  

31.4
  

26.9
  

56.5
  

50.9
  

43.8
  

65.1
  

62.3
  

57.9
  



East Dunbartonshire
  

32.0
  

21.2
  

17.8
  

40.7
  

36.5
  

31.0
  

74.4
  

60.2
  

43.3
  



East Lothian
  

36.1
  

27.1
  

24.6
  

50.2
  

44.3
  

38.4
  

58.6
  

57.9
  

51.0
  



East Renfrewshire
  

28.7
  

21.6
  

20.8
  

37.7
  

32.9
  

33.1
  

44.2
  

38.7
  

42.7
  



Edinburgh, City of
  

36.6
  

31.3
  

26.9
  

46.2
  

44.4
  

40.0
  

61.7
  

59.3
  

58.6
  



Eilean Siar
  

33.3
  

27.0
  

7.1
  

34.5
  

37.3
  

35.4
  

33.9
  

38.9
  

37.6
  



Falkirk
  

33.9
  

25.9
  

25.5
  

49.3
  

42.8
  

37.3
  

57.5
  

57.6
  

53.4
  



Fife
  

44.2
  

41.2
  

33.2
  

58.8
  

56.0
  

50.8
  

68.3
  

61.4
  

59.1
  



Glasgow City
  

45.4
  

36.0
  

32.3
  

60.8
  

53.5
  

47.8
  

73.5
  

66.3
  

61.0
  



Highland
  

32.5
  

26.3
  

26.8
  

43.4
  

41.8
  

39.7
  

50.4
  

47.5
  

45.6
  



Inverclyde
  

35.1
  

33.2
  

30.1
  

52.9
  

48.7
  

47.4
  

61.2
  

46.5
  

43.8
  



Midlothian
  

43.2
  

38.6
  

33.2
  

59.9
  

51.8
  

53.1
  

59.9
  

59.7
  

66.5
  



Moray
  

29.6
  

26.8
  

28.7
  

46.4
  

42.3
  

39.9
  

62.4
  

56.4
  

60.9
  



North Ayrshire
  

40.1
  

31.8
  

30.1
  

59.8
  

46.7
  

43.4
  

60.2
  

60.5
  

57.4
  



North Lanarkshire
  

42.0
  

34.2
  

29.5
  

57.9
  

50.6
  

44.6
  

66.8
  

64.8
  

62.8
  



Orkney Islands
  

24.1
  

25.6
  

22.8
  

37.1
  

35.4
  

42.8
  

28.0
  

42.1
  

33.8
  



Perth and Kinross
  

28.8
  

26.4
  

25.2
  

45.6
  

39.0
  

37.5
  

46.4
  

44.4
  

44.3
  



Renfrewshire
  

39.6
  

31.8
  

30.4
  

52.1
  

46.1
  

43.0
  

71.7
  

52.5
  

51.1
  



Scottish Borders
  

29.5
  

30.2
  

24.4
  

45.0
  

39.2
  

41.1
  

47.0
  

43.2
  

49.8
  



Shetland Islands
  

26.9
  

29.9
  

22.8
  

51.2
  

43.5
  

43.7
  

43.9
  

39.4
  

33.1
  



South Ayrshire
  

29.8
  

25.7
  

25.0
  

45.5
  

41.0
  

38.4
  

56.3
  

53.7
  

46.3
  



South Lanarkshire
  

33.7
  

30.3
  

24.3
  

49.8
  

46.0
  

43.0
  

56.7
  

54.7
  

50.2
  



Stirling
  

38.4
  

33.3
  

26.2
  

47.0
  

46.4
  

41.6
  

59.6
  

47.7
  

43.2
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

40.1
  

31.8
  

31.3
  

61.4
  

47.8
  

46.7
  

74.9
  

59.8
  

60.0
  



West Lothian
  

36.3
  

35.1
  

30.7
  

56.8
  

52.3
  

49.3
  

59.4
  

59.5
  

54.9
  



  5-14 Attainment of P3 and P4 pupils in Scotland by Local Authority, Publicly Funded Schools, Percentage of Pupils not Attaining Stated Level by End of the Stage

  


Mathematics
  

% of P3 roll
  

% of P4 roll
  



Not Reached Level A
  

Not Reached Level B
  



Local Authority
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  



Scotland
  

7.5
  

5.8
  

5.1
  

27.6
  

26.7
  

23.0
  



Aberdeen City
  

6.5
  

6.5
  

7.3
  

30.5
  

30.5
  

29.0
  



Aberdeenshire
  

4.9
  

5.0
  

4.0
  

27.4
  

28.3
  

24.3
  



Angus
  

6.3
  

5.3
  

7.8
  

23.9
  

27.4
  

26.2
  



Argyll and Bute
  

34.5
  

5.6
  

5.0
  

36.0
  

20.4
  

23.3
  



Clackmannanshire
  

8.5
  

5.6
  

5.2
  

36.1
  

29.5
  

19.8
  



Dumfries and Galloway
  

7.5
  

9.7
  

7.8
  

30.3
  

31.9
  

29.2
  



Dundee City
  

10.1
  

9.3
  

6.5
  

34.6
  

30.8
  

28.3
  



East Ayrshire
  

7.3
  

7.3
  

4.9
  

27.0
  

26.9
  

19.2
  



East Dunbartonshire
  

5.1
  

2.4
  

1.9
  

16.7
  

12.4
  

10.4
  



East Lothian
  

3.8
  

6.7
  

4.7
  

28.6
  

29.6
  

28.1
  



East Renfrewshire
  

3.0
  

2.2
  

1.4
  

21.7
  

15.7
  

9.8
  



Edinburgh, City of
  

8.1
  

8.5
  

6.3
  

30.0
  

31.9
  

23.6
  



Eilean Siar
  

10.5
  

8.0
  

6.7
  

22.3
  

23.0
  

26.7
  



Falkirk
  

5.5
  

6.4
  

4.4
  

28.3
  

25.7
  

21.9
  



Fife
  

7.9
  

7.5
  

7.5
  

39.3
  

36.3
  

30.2
  



Glasgow City
  

9.4
  

6.1
  

6.7
  

28.2
  

28.5
  

23.3
  



Highland
  

7.2
  

6.2
  

5.8
  

29.2
  

27.0
  

23.6
  



Inverclyde
  

6.9
  

3.7
  

2.7
  

24.2
  

22.0
  

20.0
  



Midlothian
  

6.7
  

5.9
  

6.9
  

34.2
  

34.6
  

32.0
  



Moray
  

4.5
  

6.4
  

6.2
  

24.7
  

27.1
  

25.7
  



North Ayrshire
  

7.2
  

4.9
  

3.6
  

19.2
  

22.7
  

19.0
  



North Lanarkshire
  

5.1
  

4.7
  

3.5
  

23.9
  

22.9
  

21.2
  



Orkney Islands
  

3.0
  

2.9
  

2.2
  

16.7
  

16.2
  

22.8
  



Perth and Kinross
  

5.9
  

6.2
  

5.4
  

24.7
  

26.9
  

23.5
  



Renfrewshire
  

10.6
  

4.6
  

3.4
  

29.5
  

21.5
  

17.5
  



Scottish Borders
  

4.5
  

3.8
  

5.1
  

23.0
  

28.1
  

23.7
  



Shetland Islands
  

5.2
  

2.2
  

4.1
  

21.1
  

24.4
  

17.9
  



South Ayrshire
  

4.7
  

4.4
  

3.5
  

16.8
  

18.3
  

16.6
  



South Lanarkshire
  

5.1
  

3.7
  

3.4
  

22.4
  

19.0
  

16.1
  



Stirling
  

7.0
  

5.2
  

3.7
  

24.8
  

27.0
  

25.5
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

14.9
  

5.0
  

4.5
  

27.4
  

26.1
  

22.1
  



West Lothian
  

6.7
  

5.8
  

4.2
  

28.6
  

31.0
  

27.9
  



  5-14 Attainment of P6, P7 and S2 pupils in Scotland by Local Authority, Publicly Funded Schools, Percentage of Pupils not attaining stated level by end of the stage

  


Mathematics
  

% of P6 roll
  

% of P7 roll
  

% of S2 roll
  



Not Reached Level C
  

Not Reached Level D
  

Not Reached Level E
  



Local Authority
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  

1998-99
  

1999-2000
  

2000-01
  



Scotland
  

24.8
  

25.1
  

22.0
  

36.6
  

35.6
  

33.0
  

58.3
  

53.3
  

48.8
  



Aberdeen City
  

24.1
  

27.1
  

24.0
  

38.9
  

36.8
  

33.7
  

59.9
  

61.9
  

51.8
  



Aberdeenshire
  

19.9
  

23.4
  

20.8
  

29.0
  

31.2
  

31.2
  

45.5
  

43.9
  

41.5
  



Angus
  

24.8
  

27.8
  

32.0
  

35.6
  

36.9
  

33.1
  

57.4
  

53.7
  

48.6
  



Argyll and Bute
  

36.7
  

21.6
  

20.8
  

50.0
  

35.7
  

31.9
  

70.0
  

49.9
  

44.2
  



Clackmannanshire
  

30.0
  

31.4
  

31.1
  

39.1
  

40.4
  

36.4
  

67.4
  

54.2
  

52.3
  



Dumfries and Galloway
  

22.2
  

32.0
  

26.7
  

37.3
  

36.1
  

36.8
  

49.4
  

51.0
  

46.4
  



Dundee City
  

34.4
  

31.3
  

27.7
  

45.2
  

39.4
  

38.2
  

59.6
  

60.8
  

60.3
  



East Ayrshire
  

23.4
  

24.2
  

19.9
  

33.4
  

34.8
  

32.4
  

46.0
  

44.5
  

37.6
  



East Dunbartonshire
  

12.4
  

12.5
  

11.7
  

23.1
  

21.1
  

18.2
  

64.5
  

41.3
  

36.9
  



East Lothian
  

28.6
  

22.7
  

24.7
  

39.6
  

34.8
  

29.4
  

73.5
  

56.3
  

51.4
  



East Renfrewshire
  

17.9
  

16.4
  

10.8
  

25.1
  

24.0
  

19.8
  

39.8
  

28.8
  

29.5
  



Edinburgh, City of
  

27.5
  

26.3
  

24.5
  

37.5
  

37.5
  

32.6
  

56.4
  

55.9
  

53.2
  



Eilean Siar
  

20.8
  

25.0
  

12.9
  

24.5
  

27.5
  

24.4
  

38.2
  

37.8
  

38.1
  



Falkirk
  

22.6
  

22.9
  

22.3
  

34.9
  

34.9
  

30.8
  

51.4
  

50.0
  

43.8
  



Fife
  

30.8
  

32.4
  

25.7
  

44.9
  

43.2
  

41.6
  

61.1
  

59.1
  

56.8
  



Glasgow City
  

27.2
  

28.2
  

24.2
  

40.4
  

40.6
  

36.7
  

71.5
  

68.3
  

59.9
  



Highland
  

22.2
  

23.5
  

24.6
  

30.3
  

33.0
  

31.7
  

51.8
  

44.3
  

41.2
  



Inverclyde
  

23.6
  

21.4
  

21.7
  

41.0
  

39.3
  

33.9
  

59.7
  

48.1
  

46.3
  



Midlothian
  

30.4
  

35.1
  

27.0
  

42.7
  

41.1
  

43.9
  

47.3
  

58.7
  

57.8
  



Moray
  

20.1
  

23.1
  

23.3
  

31.9
  

29.6
  

27.5
  

51.0
  

51.1
  

57.4
  



North Ayrshire
  

21.1
  

25.7
  

19.7
  

31.9
  

35.2
  

32.9
  

56.1
  

52.1
  

48.8
  



North Lanarkshire
  

22.2
  

23.1
  

18.8
  

36.2
  

34.3
  

30.7
  

60.1
  

58.6
  

52.2
  



Orkney Islands
  

11.4
  

20.9
  

15.2
  

30.8
  

23.9
  

30.0
  

44.0
  

42.1
  

43.6
  



Perth and Kinross
  

19.2
  

18.6
  

19.7
  

29.6
  

29.5
  

27.6
  

44.2
  

41.3
  

36.8
  



Renfrewshire
  

33.0
  

21.0
  

18.0
  

43.2
  

37.5
  

34.4
  

70.7
  

46.9
  

44.5
  



Scottish Borders
  

23.4
  

27.1
  

18.9
  

38.6
  

37.0
  

31.6
  

49.5
  

49.2
  

47.3
  



Shetland Islands
  

20.2
  

21.1
  

18.3
  

27.8
  

33.9
  

29.8
  

46.5
  

40.6
  

32.5
  



South Ayrshire
  

18.3
  

19.2
  

15.6
  

26.8
  

28.4
  

26.0
  

62.2
  

50.9
  

49.1
  



South Lanarkshire
  

21.8
  

20.4
  

15.9
  

32.9
  

32.3
  

30.7
  

53.2
  

48.8
  

40.2
  



Stirling
  

25.6
  

25.4
  

22.3
  

36.8
  

34.3
  

34.0
  

46.7
  

45.0
  

41.0
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

31.6
  

22.5
  

23.2
  

39.9
  

33.0
  

30.8
  

83.9
  

63.8
  

58.9
  



West Lothian
  

24.8
  

30.9
  

26.6
  

36.9
  

40.7
  

37.5
  

62.9
  

62.0
  

54.0
  



  Note: The percentages in the tables include small numbers of pupils whose level of attainment was not available.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish universities and colleges with regard to their approach to pupils applying for entry from Scottish schools who have A and AS level qualifications as well as Higher and Advanced Higher level qualifications.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that pupils from Scottish schools applying for entry to universities and colleges in Scotland are not at a disadvantage if they hold A and AS level passes as well as Higher and Advanced Higher passes.

Iain Gray: The Executive has had no discussions with universities and colleges on this issue.

  Institutions are autonomous bodies and specific admissions policies are a matter for them. Through its new condition of grant and scrutiny of the Strategic Plans of higher education institutions, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council requires institutions to demonstrate how they deliver equality of opportunity in their application, selection, admissions and support policies.

Ferry Services

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any advertising campaigns have been undertaken in (a) Scotland and (b) Europe to promote the ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.

Mike Watson: The promotion of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge link is a matter for Superfast Ferries. However, I am aware that VisitScotland have been working with Superfast Ferries in order to promote the route and details of it are carried in VisitScotland’s promotional literature.

Freedom of Information

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Information Commissioner will be appointed.

Mr Jim Wallace: Section 42 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 provides that the appointment of the Scottish Information Commissioner is a matter for the Scottish Parliament. I understand, however, that it is intended that interviews of candidates for this post will take place later this month.

General Practitioners

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP lists are currently closed, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number of GP practices which have indicated to their Primary Care Trust/Island NHS Board that they are not currently accepting new patients is as set out within the following table:

  


Primary Care Trust/Island NHS Board
  

No. of GP Practices with Closed Lists
  



Lomond and Argyll PCT
  

0
  



Renfrewshire and Inverclyde PCT
  

0
  



Ayrshire and Arran PCT
  

5
  



Borders PCT
  

0
  



Dumfries and Galloway PCT
  

0
  



Fife PCT
  

3
  



Forth Valley PCT
  

6
  



Grampian PCT
  

0
  



Greater Glasgow PCT
  

0
  



Highland PCT
  

0
  



Lanarkshire PCT
  

3
  



Lothian PCT
  

2
  



Tayside PCT
  

0
  



Orkney NHS Board
  

0
  



Shetland NHS Board
  

0
  



Western Isles NHS Board
  

0
  



West Lothian NHS Trust
  

1
  



Total
  

20

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a detailed investigation into the level and standard of service being provided by Argyll and Clyde NHS Board with particular regard to any delayed referrals and financial mismanagement.

Malcolm Chisholm: On 26 September I announced the despatch of an expert support team to tackle long-standing managerial problems in the running of the health service in Argyll and Clyde.

  In setting up the expert support team, the Executive and NHS Board Chair, John Mullin, are protecting patients’ interests by taking decisive action to safeguard corporate working and effective long-term strategic and financial planning in NHS Argyll and Clyde.

Health Promotion

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28604 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 September 2002, whether all of the £18.4 million was allocated to local authorities and not directly to voluntary organisations.

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision to give all the £95 million grants related to promoting healthy lifestyle choices amongst children and young people directly to local authorities and allocate some instead to national youth organisations for their national and local activities.

Mr Andy Kerr: The total resources have been allocated directly to local authorities for local initiatives. It is open to authorities to pass funds on to voluntary and other organisations.

Historic Buildings

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action Historic Scotland will take if Castle Tioram's physical structure deteriorates to a point where public access is denied for reasons of safety.

Dr Elaine Murray: Castle Tioram was closed to the public following the issuing of a Dangerous Building Notice by the Highland Council in 1998. The notice was issued following engineering reports from the owners regarding the dangerous condition of the building. The castle remains closed to the public. The maintenance of the castle is the responsibility of the owners.

  In his report following the public local inquiry, the reporter found that the castle was inherently strong but concluded that without major consolidation work the risk of further collapse in five to 10 years was significant. Under section 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, if it appears to Scottish ministers that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a scheduled monument, they may enter the site of the monument and execute those works after giving the owner and the occupier notice in writing of their intention to do so. Such powers would be exercised on behalf of Scottish ministers by Historic Scotland. There are currently no plans to exercise these powers in respect of Castle Tioram.

Historic Buildings

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a fundamental and insurmountable incompatibility between the restoration plans for Castle Tioram proposed by the castle's current owners and the Executive's position in respect of the recent public local inquiry into those plans.

Dr Elaine Murray: The public local inquiry gave the opportunity for all parties to be heard and for witnesses, including Historic Scotland, to be cross-examined. The inquiry was conducted by an independent reporter who recommended to Scottish ministers that scheduled monument consent to restore the castle be refused, a recommendation that Scottish ministers accepted. He believed that consolidation was a more appropriate approach to safeguarding the castle.

  The applicants have lodged an appeal with the Court of Session on a point of law. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this time.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to issue guidance on best practice in local area co-ordination in order to underpin the implementation of The Same As You? .

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive wrote to all local authorities and NHS boards on 16 October 2002 with good practice guidance on local area co-ordination.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local area co-ordination services, as identified in The Same As You ?, are intended to cover all age groups.

Mr Frank McAveety: Yes.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authority areas do not yet have local area co-ordinators, as identified in The Same As you? , in place.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28050 by Mr Frank McAveety on 21 August 2002, how many local area co-ordinators that are already in place are (a) additional to the existing staff complement and (b) form part of an existing member of staff's remit to take forward the implementation of The Same As You? .

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local area co-ordinators as identified in The Same As You? have been funded from existing local authority and NHS board resources or from the Learning Disability Services Change Fund.

Mr Frank McAveety: Information about the appointment of local area co-ordinators in each local authority area is available in Partnership in Practice Agreements, and in supplementary information provided to the Scottish Executive. All of this information will shortly be available on the learning disability review website at www.scotland.gov.uk/ldsr .

Meat Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received on why no submission was made to the European Commission from the UK to receive a share of its financial package to fight transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) and other animal diseases in the EU in 2003.

Ross Finnie: EU legislation requires member states to submit applications for such funding by 1 June. The Executive is aware that due to an administrative oversight a submission from the UK was not submitted by that deadline. Administrative procedures have been amended to avoid a repetition in the future. Discussions are currently under way with Commission officials to establish whether there is any scope to consider an EU contribution to the 2003 TSE surveillance programme costs.

Museums

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the funding of regional and independent museums.

Dr Elaine Murray: Local authorities are responsible for the funding of museums in their areas and independent museums are the responsibility of individual groups of trustees. The Executive welcomes the diversity and range of museums and funding sources in the sector. Following the publication in July of the National Audit of Scotland's Museums and Galleries , the Executive is seeking views on the creation of an action plan to provide a framework for the continuing development of the museums and galleries sector in Scotland.

NHS Pay

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it has addressed and will address low pay issues in the NHS, as referred to in section 8 of Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change .

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has already demonstrated its commitment to address low pay both now and in the future through targeted, above inflation increases, for the lowest paid NHS staff in each of the last four years and also in the context of the on-going UK national negotiations on pay modernisation.

  Negotiations on the new modernised pay system are currently in their final stages and it would be inappropriate to speculate on their outcome.

New Futures Fund

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have entered work under Phase 1 of the New Futures Fund since the inception of the fund.

Iain Gray: The New Futures Fund (NFF) aims to help people (aged 15 to 35 years) who are disadvantaged in the labour market move towards employment. New Futures Fund is one of the few Labour Market Initiatives that does not specifically require or expect immediate job outcomes. The emphasis is on small steps of progress. More than 5,000 people were supported by NFF projects in Phase 1.

  In the Scottish Enterprise area, a total of 2,194 young people aged 15 to 24 years moved on from NFF in Phase 1. One thousand, four hundred and eighty-seven (67.7%) achieved a positive outcome, of which 383 (25.7%) moved directly into employment.

  In the Highlands and Islands area, a total of 111 young people aged 15 to 24 years moved on from NFF in Phase 1. Sixty-four (57.7%) achieved a positive outcome, of which 25 (22.5%) moved directly into employment.

New Futures Fund

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Phase 1 of the New Futures Fund cost.

Iain Gray: The budgeted cost of New Futures Fund in Phase 1 (to March 2002) was £15 million.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29900 by Mr Jim Wallace on 15 October 2002, whether any buildings have been purchased by the Scottish Prison Service in each of the last five years; if so, where, why the purchase was made and what the purchase cost was.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No buildings have been purchased over the last five years.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29261 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 October 2002, whether it will, as part of the costing of the proposed new 700-place private prison, include costings for all aspects involved in the transportation of remand prisoners to the prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  We do not anticipate that the contract for the new prison will include transport of prisoners, as that will be subject to our separate contractual arrangements for prisoner escorts.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29481 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 October 2002, whether it is concerned that it does not have comprehensive data on the (a) prevalence and (b) incidence of new cases of hepatitis C in each prison in each of the last three years and, if so, what action it plans to take to compile such information.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The aim of health care within SPS is to provide prisoner patients with access to the same quality and range of health services to which they would be eligible within the community, but subject to the constraints that custody imposes.

  Prisoners have the opportunity to be tested for hepatitis C which includes pre- and post-test counselling. Those known to be infected with hepatitis C are offered immunisation against hepatitis A. All prisoners on admission are offered hepatitis B immunisation.

  Specialist treatment for those prisoners known to be hepatitis C positive is provided by the NHS.

Schools

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations are in place to inspect fire safety within schools.

Dr Richard Simpson: Schools, as places of work, are subject to the provisions of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997. These regulations place general duties on employers regarding the provision and maintenance of fire safety measures. The regulations are enforced by local fire authorities who have powers to inspect schools and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary.

Schools

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all schools have fire safety certificates.

Dr Richard Simpson: Schools are not designated under section 1 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and therefore do not require fire certificates.

Scottish Executive Departments

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been employed in its Environment and Rural Affairs Department and what the total salary cost has been in each year since 1999-2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested can be found in the following two tables:

  Table 1: Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department

  Count of Permanent Staff as at 1 April (Headcount) 1999-2002

  


Year
  

No of Permanent Staff
  

No of Casual Staff
  



1999
  

964
  

67*
  



2000
  

988
  

82
  



2001
  

1,043
  

67
  



2002
  

1,101
  

102
  



  Note:

  *Numbers of agency casual staff were not recorded centrally until November 1999.

  Table 2: Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department

  Total Salary Costs by Financial Year 1999-2000 to 2001-02

  


Financial Year
  

Salary Costs
  



1999-2000
  

£22,621,882.00
  



2000-01
  

£24,441,919.00
  



2001-02
  

£28,995,000.00
  



  The figure for 2001-02 includes expenditure of £2,187,283 which was reimbursed from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to meet the Scottish Executive costs of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Scottish Executive Staff

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) employees and (b) former employees of its Security Branch were (i) entitled to and (ii) have been successfully contacted about backdated travel time allowances to date.

Mr Andy Kerr: Entitlement to these allowances can only be determined following receipt of applications and analysis of relevant records. Contact was made with 57 serving Security Force staff. Letters were sent, by recorded delivery, to the last known addresses of 135 former Security Force staff, which resulted in 37 replies.

Scottish Executive Websites

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to establish its Know the Score website and what the annual operating costs are of the site.

Dr Richard Simpson: The total cost of establishing the Know the Score website was £15,000. It is estimated that the operating costs in the first year will amount to £2,025 (we are currently in discussion with the website designers about updating the site, but do not yet have projected costs for this).

  All of the above costs are exclusive of VAT.

Scottish Science Trust

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is no longer prepared to provide funding to the Scottish Science Trust (SST) and, in particular, whether this decision is a result of any independent assessment or evaluation of SST’s performance or impact.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Science Trust is a charitable organisation independent of government, established in 1997 principally to support the work of science centres in Scotland, and with the assumption that no government support would be required. However, it has recently become clear that the trust is unable to attract sufficient support from non-government sources to be able to continue with its activities. In the light of these indications, I met the Chair of the trust and the Chairs of the Scottish science centres last month, to gauge what type of central organisational support the centres regard to be necessary and sustainable, and to explore the possible role of the Executive in supporting this. The Executive has since invited the Chair of the trust to work with the science centres to produce proposals for successor arrangements to the present trust. Once we have received these proposals, we will be in a position to consider what part the Executive may be able to play in assisting in the establishment of successor arrangements. In 2001-02, the Executive provided one-off support of £350,000 to the trust, mainly to enhance its science education programmes, but also to assist with running costs.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the first meeting of the Sustainable Development Forum on 24 July 2002.

Ross Finnie: The first meeting of the forum on 24 July heard presentations on Meeting the Needs… , the Do a Little, Change a Lot campaign, the UK Sustainable Development Commission and preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Participants had wide-ranging discussions on these subjects and on the role of the forum itself. Participants were invited to send comments on this to the Sustainable Development Team in the Executive.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its proposals are for the composition and remit of the Sustainable Development Forum.

Ross Finnie: The initial remit and composition of the Sustainable Development Forum for Scotland, as set out in the answer given to question S1W-27187 on 1 August 2002, is to provide a focus for Scottish thinking and action on sustainable development. Following the first meeting of the forum on 24 July, we are considering the views of members on the composition and remit. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to engage a wider group of stakeholders in achieving sustainable development.

Ross Finnie: The Executive consults widely across its range of policies, offering many opportunities for stakeholders to engage on sustainable development issues. The Sustainable Development Forum is simply one mechanism to engage stakeholders in taking forward thinking and action on sustainable development.